The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-08-03

intention. When supper was announced
he followed the woman into the next room,
and after satisfying his hunger, returned
( o the bar-room. The clock struck eleven,
when the landlord threw down his cards
and declared there should be no more play
ing that night. He had seemed to Mr..
kinSman to be laboring under sense OF
the bad impression that the surroundings
would make upon his guest: and when
some of the players demurred ut quitting
so soon, he grew emphatic and peremptory,
extinguished all the candles but one, and
babe them begone. When he was alone
with the traveller, he began a half-apology;
but the latter soon interrupted him.
All this speaks for itself. Samson
Larrabee, he said. 81 am glad to meet
YOU again, but very sorry to find YOU "a |
do. You have grown no better in twenty
years.
The landlord started back with astonish-
ment.
"Why-why, my name isn't Larrabee"
he said
Then you have taken another" said the
traveller, quietly. The other stared at him,
and then cried out
You can't be Otis Kinsman?"
Indeed, am; and here's my hand,
| Samson"
The landlord slowly held out his own.
! He did not seem we'll pleased that he had
been recognized, and he did not for mo-
ment answer the CHEEKY salutation. Then
he said:
well, Otis, you've found me, and you'll
be welcome to the poor entertainment can
give you; but I'll have you know at the
start that i won't submit to anv of your
sermons. Do you want to go to bed?"
Mr.. kinsman looked very sorrowfully in
to the face before him, dishgured with
excess and bad passions, and simply
bowed. The landlord took candle and
he followed him up stairs to meanly fur
nshed chamber. With n muttered good
night, Larrabee was about TO 60, when the
others hand was laid on his shoulder.
Wait. Samson" he said; there's some
thing must say"
"Oh, pshaw," was the impatient answer.
The hand detained him, kindly but
firmly.
Il have right to speak" continued Mr..
Kinsman. WAS | not your friend when
You had very few friends? Did l not try
my best to save you from yourself? Re-
member our boyhood, Samson, and how
we were seat-mates at school. l say have
a right to speak to YOU"
Larrabee took the only chair in the room,
thrust his hands In his pocket and his feet
out in front, and uttered logged "Well?"
My own life has been happy and pros
| porous one since YOU last saw me-, pursued
! Mr.. Kinsman. Il have n beloved family;
| | have gained competence; | believe that
| have the respect and confidence of my
! fellow citizens. / do not say these things
boastfully: when | thank God every nj ght
that they are as they are, l also pray not to
be led into temptation. 1t is my response
! bility to Him and to you that is heavy upon
me now. 1 could not kneel tonight in
entreaty for myself and for those / have
left at home, did | fail to meet the duty that
is thrust upon me this night / say to you,
Samson Larrabee, that all that / am you
might have been had you not hardened
your heart against the appeals of your best
friends and persisted in your evil courses.
You"
Mighty few best friends there were"
was the sulen interruption.
Don't wrong me IN that way, Samson
Did / not try my best 10 save you, before
you utterly went TO the badl After you
had sent your wife broken hearted to the
grave, did give you up: When the story
of the robbery came out, which naturally
turned the few against you who were still
your friends, you know how | clung TO YOU,
and how hard / tried TO save you from
States prison. And when your punish
into his employ, and help you to fight the
hard battle to gain honor and respect"
ut was hopeless, said the sulky Lar
Iabee.
at was not hopeless" The fine features
of the speaker lighted up with enthusiasm,
ana his face became radiant. The fight
could have been won then-and it shall be
now il you will give heed to me. My err
rand out here will take me almost to the
MississiI pi. where | go to purchase very
d. sirable tract of wild land. On my return
/ will stop here, and you shall 60 back with
me. have work for you to do; L remem-
Der your ability in business before you
threw yourself away. Abandon these de-
grading associates; close your disreputable
business; trust to me, and L pledge you my
word"
The speaker stopped abruptly; an ashen
pallor oyerspread his face, and he sank
back ron the bed. Larrabee sprang up,
seized the water jug, and dashed part of its
contents into the sufferers face. Observ-
ing that it produced a reyiving effect, he
proceeded to loosen the vest, and as he
did so, he observed between it and the shirt
stout woven belt, such as was used at
that day to carry money. He felt with his
thumb and finger at the edges, and found
1t alternately hard and soft in places. as
though it contained both gold pieces and
bank notes.
Presently Mr.. Kinsman opened his eyes,
came back to consciousness, and sat up.
He smiled as he saw the landlord standing
before him with the water-jug in his hand.
Thank you, Samson he said I'm
nearly right again; you did the correct
thing. You never knew that was subject
to such attacks, although | began to have
them long before you went away. Partial
failure of the heart, the doctors say.
caused by excitement. | must be careful.
There's something more l wish to say. but
it's better not to say it now. Think earn
estly of what i have said, and in the morn
ing we will talk again on this subject.
So they separated for the night.
Samson Larrabee was up betimes the
next morning He swept the bar and the
| hall, and gave directions that a good break
fast should be prepared for the guest. He
amazed one of his boon companions OF the
previous night, when he come in and
asked for dram, by telling him sharp
! lv TO 90 about his business. He was
strangely restless. He strolled about: he
sat down and tried to read; once
he went out to the front of the house, and
| looked MP at the window of the room
where his guest slept. Finally he told the
kitchen CRITIC go up and knock at the door
of the chamber and say that breakfast
ho